A third-party mapping app called ClassicMap, which looked remarkably similar to Apple's defunct Google Maps-powered Maps app, was pulled from the iOS App Store on Thursday after only two days of availability.

ClassicMap was pulled two days after hitting the iOS App Store. | Source: Pocketnow

The takedown of what was basically an unofficial Google Maps replacement, first discovered by Pocketnow (viaCNET), comes amid a flurry of complaints and controversy surrounding Apple's new proprietary mapping solution released with iOS 6.

ClassicMaps, from developer Katsumi Kishikawa, aimed to bring back some of the features missing from the new iOS Maps, the most notable being data from Google's mapping service. While the app did offer a visual presentation strikingly similar to the original Apple Maps, reviewers found the software to be woefully inadequate when compared to competing options. According to one review from the Los Angeles Times, ClassicMap didn't offer point-to-point directions of any kind, and is "terrible for searching."

"If you type in an exact address you should be fine, but if you search for something by name sometimes the app won't even pretend to search. It'll just sit there ignoring you like a cat or a teenager," writes the LA Times' Salvador Rodriguez.

While ClassicMap may not have offered the optimal implementation of Google's massive mapping services database, the mere existence of such a product underscores a demand for alternatives to iOS Maps.

Since its debut alongside the iPhone 5 in September, Apple's iOS Maps has seen a barrage of negative comments and reviews, most of which compared the new app to the now defunct Google Maps-powered version offered before the launch of iOS 6.

Incorrect locations seen in iOS Maps.

Of the many flaws found by consumers, most glaring are incorrect location data, lack of public transportation directions and visual inconsistencies in the 3-D "Flyover" feature. A number of other complaints focused on the obvious removal of Google's Street View, which recently returned to iOS in the form of Google Maps' mobile website.

It has been speculated that Apple moved to its proprietary solution in a move to distance itself from Google, creator of the competing Android operating system, and a recent report noted that the Cupertino company had at least a year remaining on its current contract with Google Maps. In an interview with the internet search giant's chairman Eric Schmidt on Wednesday, the rumors were somewhat confirmed as the executive made clear that Google's negotiated terms were rebuffed by Apple, which he said was determined to build its own mapping service.

I knew it was only a matter of time before it would get pulled. By the look of the source code posted on GitHub, it does not use the documented Google Maps API which is a huge violation of Google's terms of service and that may be the reason.

Just when I thought we were out of milk, AppleInsider comes to the rescue!

Indeed. Adding the bit about how "Apple's iOS Maps has seen a barrage of negative comments and reviews ..." every single time and to every single article is getting a bit old also. Especially in light of the fact that actual testing of the app has proven that it isn't really that bad at all and that Google's data has it's own errors to worry about. It might be time to change the phonograph.

I still am very confident that a Google Maps app will not see the light of day on iOS... ever. Apple will reject it if Google produces one. This whole thing is all about getting rid of Google on iOS as much as possible.

Bad Apple- first you crippled my 4GS by stripping out StreetView and replace it with Flyover which is gorgeous to look at but utterly useless. Now you jail me in by not allowing replacements enter your iOs to compete against your flawed MapApp. You will be held accountable. You make great desktops but this is getting old- FAST.

Get over yourself! There are plenty of options available for the iPhone, including Google maps, by just adding their web app to your home screen. This whole argument is getting quite silly and frankly, stupid.

Bad Apple- first you crippled my 4GS by stripping out StreetView and replace it with Flyover which is gorgeous to look at but utterly useless. Now you jail me in by not allowing replacements enter your iOs to compete against your flawed MapApp. You will be held accountable. You make great desktops but this is getting old- FAST.

Seriously? No really?

First, Apple advertises multiple great competitors!

Second, one of the previous commenters points out possible evidence of breach of terms of Google's service by this pulled app.

Third, I get you're upset that Apple replaced classic Maps with the new Maps app, but that doesn't mean every move Apple makes now is against your personal best interests.

When a company stops chasing profit and start chasing the betterment of their products, services, workforce, and customers, that will be the most valuable company in the world.

(c) No Navigation, Autonomous Vehicle Control, or Enterprise Applications. You must not use the Service or Content with any products, systems, or applications for or in connection with any of the following:

(i) real time navigation or route guidance, including but not limited to turn-by-turn route guidance that is synchronized to the position of a user's sensor-enabled device.

(ii) any systems or functions for automatic or autonomous control of vehicle behavior; or

(iii) enterprise dispatch, fleet management, business asset tracking or similar applications. If you want to engage in enterprise dispatch, fleet management, business asset tracking, or similar applications, please contact the Google Maps API for Business sales team to obtain a Google enterprise license. (If you are offering a non-enterprise implementation, you may use the Google Maps API(s) to track assets such as cars, buses or other vehicles, as long as your tracking application is made available to the public without charge. For example, you may offer a free, public Maps API Implementation that displays real-time public transit or other transportation status information.)

... and a recent report noted that the Cupertino company had at least a year remaining on its current contract with Google Maps. ...

This keeps getting repeated, but it's never clearly stated, or perhaps even understood that this "year remaing" wa most likely from June 2012, not September 2012. So, at the time iOS 6 was released, another 9 months, or until 3 months prior to the likely release of iOS 7, which would have been a really bad time to try to put out a new iOS release just to update the mapping software. The time was right. Waiting 9 months would have been pointless.

Originally Posted by iSheldon
1.) A 4S that runs on the "4G" AT&T network? Not that difficult to figure out.

When the name you use is the equivalent of calling the first MacBook Pro with 802.11n the "MacBook N" and expecting people to know what you mean, yeah, it's a problem.

2.) And no - not like that imaginary iPhone 6 you keep harping about.

Yes, the one I've said nothing about for over half a year and specifically denounced since then. That one. My stars, it's like if someone was making fun of a vegetarian turned omnivore by saying they used to only eat lettuce and expecting anyone to want to take their side.

(c) No Navigation, Autonomous Vehicle Control, or Enterprise Applications. You must not use the Service or Content with any products, systems, or applications for or in connection with any of the following:

(i) real time navigation or route guidance, including but not limited to turn-by-turn route guidance that is synchronized to the position of a user's sensor-enabled device.

(ii) any systems or functions for automatic or autonomous control of vehicle behavior; or

(iii) enterprise dispatch, fleet management, business asset tracking or similar applications. If you want to engage in enterprise dispatch, fleet management, business asset tracking, or similar applications, please contact the Google Maps API for Business sales team
to obtain a Google enterprise license. (If you are offering a non-enterprise implementation, you may use the Google Maps API(s) to track assets such as cars, buses or other vehicles, as long as your tracking application is made available to the public without charge. For example, you may offer a free, public Maps API Implementation that displays real-time public transit or other transportation status information.)

But Google is open, surely they wouldn't mind if someone used their services in a way they were asked not to.

It didn't sound snarky. I was going to ask the same question since a typo could mean 3GS (most likely) or 4S (less likely since you should have known you made one more letter entry). A simple "I made a typo. I meant 4S" would have been the perfect reply.

Bad Apple- first you crippled my 4S by stripping out StreetView and replace it with Flyover which is gorgeous to look at but utterly useless. Now you jail me in by not allowing replacements enter your iOs to compete against your flawed MapApp. You will be held accountable. You make great desktops but this is getting old- FAST.

Do you like all the Google maps errors I've been pointing out every time they run one of these stories, the use of screen shots demonstrating why Apple maps are better.

It's strange how you seem to ignore them.

Turn by turn directions

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Streetview

Time to build a bridge, get over it.

Better than my Bose, better than my Skullcandy's, listening to Mozart through my LeBron James limited edition PowerBeats by Dre is almost as good as my Sennheisers.

Besides, the community doesn't even appear to have been built yet making this comparison even more meaningless.

So it's too bad if you are in one of the "100 homes occupied" in 2011 because anyone using Google maps will not be able to find you, whereas using iOS 6 maps (which become less "horrible" depending on zoom level) will.

This keeps getting repeated, but it's never clearly stated, or perhaps even understood that this "year remaing" wa most likely from June 2012, not September 2012. So, at the time iOS 6 was released, another 9 months, or until 3 months prior to the likely release of iOS 7, which would have been a really bad time to try to put out a new iOS release just to update the mapping software. The time was right. Waiting 9 months would have been pointless.

This what pundits are saying that the maps being an integral part of the OS, it needs to coincide with the major OS release which is why Apple released it now, but what is to become of the earlier models of iPhones that cannot run iOS 6? Surely Apple is going to continue to pay the license fee to Google to keep those running.That is if they ever paid a fee to begin with which we don't know.

And even harder when every little flaw will get blown out of proportion.

Yeah but when Steve was there, the word 'flaw' would cause heads to roll. Apple has set the bar so high for QA that they are now taking it from all sides because of the numerous issues with iPhone 5. Purple lens flare, Maps, Scratches, Wifi issues, overage charges, and no simultaneous data/voice on CDMA networks in the US. These are things that people using Apple products are not used to seeing.

When a company projects the image of perfection, people expect it. If that company fails, well they are going to take a lot of flak for lying. They are just like every other big company out there except they happen to be the biggest company in the world (not sure with the latest stock adjustments) and they have a boatload of cash. They make some pretty darn good products but they are not perfect and those on this board who continue to project that image, you are only hurting the brand because you exemplify everything that anti-Apple people believe Apple enthusiasts to be (snotty, arrogant, ignorant and elitist).

I've been reading these boards for a while (and have been pretty quiet) and I see some pretty even keeled comments once in a while but there are some extremely loud people here who are not doing Apple any favours by saying nasty comments. You think you are better than than the Rimmers, Phandroids and WP 'followers'? Prove it by being polite, open minded and calling others out for giving this board a bad name. If you have ever been on an Android forum, you will see that when their company messes up, they hold them accountable and hold their feet to the fire (see the recent updatemymoto campaign for an example) . We should be peeved at the poor implementation of Maps and pressure Apple to do something about it. What do we do instead? Look to other map apps and point out their errors and faults.

Yeah that works. Just kill the resale market for your phones and tablets that has added considerably to your market share. Everyone needs to upgrade to the latest hardware, no more hand me downs, thats the new law.